Refurbished Optimus

Refurbished LG Optimus - Factory Unlocked Phones

A refurbished phone is usually a lot less expensive than buying a similar device new. Consumers' main concern is whether a used phone really works reliably. Other common questions include: Is there a difference between used and refurbished phones, or do these words just mean the same thing? How does one find a refurbished cell phone that will work well? Here are some answers to these and other questions to help with deciding whether or not to buy a refurbished cell phone.

Overview of Refurbished Cell Phones

The first thing to know about a refurbished cell phone is that it is not new, but that does not mean it has been used much. Many people buy a cell phone and then change their minds and return it within a couple of days, even though there is nothing wrong with the phone. These devices cannot legally be resold as new, but they may never have actually been used. Other phones have been returned because they stopped working properly or because they simply got old and worn and the owner wanted something new. Family plans often come with regular phone upgrades, which mean that people try to resell or even give away their old phones. There is no real way to tell for sure why a used phone was returned, but a refurbished phone, by definition, should work like a new phone. If it does not work like new, it was not refurbished.

Used Vs. Refurbished Phones

While refurbished phones have often been used, the term "used" has a more specific meaning. A used phone is sold as-is. It has not been tested or fixed, and it does not come with a guarantee. It is of much lower value than a refurbished phone, because no value has been added back into it. A refurbished phone is different in that it has been tested, repaired if necessary, and it has been cleaned. A refurbished LG phone should function exactly like it did when it was new, and it should come with a warranty just like a new phone.

Sometimes cell phones are sold in a range of wear levels with refurbished near the top of the scale and heavily worn phones sold as-is at the bottom. These ranges are not standardized, so they vary from one seller to another. Phones are also sometimes sold as refurbished when they have not actually been competently tested. Just as with any other piece of equipment, the smart buyer must do some homework before laying down money.

Reasons to Buy a Refurbished Phone

The most obvious reason to buy a refurbished phone is price. A refurbished phone is less expensive than a similar new phone, everything else being equal. For example a refurbished LG NEXUS 5X comes as cheap as $230, while new it costs up to $320. Everything else is not always equal, and it is sometimes possible to find a deeply discounted new phone that is a better deal than a refurbished phone would be. Buying a refurbished phone is also a good way to stick with a favorite model a bit longer, even after the company has moved on to a new design. There are people who really like having the newest, flashiest gadget, but there are other people who really prefer to stick with what works for them. Companies, like Apple and Nokia, are constantly rolling out new designs that a user may or may not want. Finally, buying refurbished phones is one way to help reduce waste.

Precautions Necessary With a Refurbished Phone

The most serious risk with buying a refurbished phone is that it may not actually have been refurbished. Phones also sometimes come with histories, such as an unpaid balance from the previous owner. Finally, many people buy refurbished phones as an affordable way to replace a cell phone that has been lost or stolen. In such cases, the refurbished phone has to be added to an existing cell phone plan, and not all phones are compatible with all plans.